Matt Geraghty Project: Trade Winds - Cuba
 For all you Cuban music lovers out there I bring you the Matt Geraghty Project as it will certainly be right up your alley. The project features the improvisations of New York bassist Matt Geraghty. There are twenty-one songs with each representing a different band and featuring over one hundred of the best musicians Cuba has to offer. This project must have been a major undertaking. As I understand it the intent is to educate people of all the richness that country has. This is especially significant now that the political climate is somewhat less tense between Cuba and the United States.
The soundscapes are thick with heavy percussion, especially in the lead off track "Breaking Barriers" where the world music element is readily apparent as is the song's jam-like atmosphere. Saxophone adds a much needed melodic component which makes the track highly listenable for those not interested in long drawn out jam sessions. The saxophone in "Direct Hit" is much more angular but the ethnic flavour is still very much prevalent. With "In The Temple" the repeating piano line is quite catchy and the percussion is dialed back just a bit in the song's first half but as it progresses the drums take on added complexity and become more dominant in the mix. Another change up ensues as the last few minutes are quite mellow featuring mostly piano and sax. A more somber vibe can be heard on the acoustically oriented "Cactus Flower" while frenetic saxophone begins the much more chaotic "Yank Tank".
One must applaud Geraghty for taking on such an ambitious project. According to the press release Brazil and West Africa are up next for the Project which is great news for ethnic/jazz music fans. It's a history lesson for your ears and I have to say its better than reading a textbook. Recommended.
Track Listing:
CD 1
1. Breaking Barriers
2. Direct Hit
3. In The Temple
4. Cactus Flower
5. Yank Tank
6. Mis Dudas
7. Planet Fluto
8. Passing The Torch
9. Port Of Hope
10. Havana Sky
11. The New Now
CD 2
1. July Snow
2. Caribbean Roots
3. Common Currency
4. Building Bridges
5. Best Of The Best
6. Cracking The Code
7. Just Like That
8. Prende
9. Dry Storm
10. Havana Suite
Added: May 15th 2016
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:  
Related Link: Artist's Official Site
Hits: 1612
Language: english
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